Today I’d like to address the concept of friends and friendship. Now, there is a difference between friends and acquaintances. What makes one person a friend and another just an acquaintance is a very interesting distinction. I’m sure you have all found yourselves in a conversation at one time or another talking about a third party when the person you are speaking with says, “Oh, is that person a friend of yours?” And then you respond with something like, “No, not really. More of an acquaintance.” The point is we all tend to differentiate our true friends from our casual acquaintances.

With that said, let me ask you a question: In your opinion, what pushes a person beyond the limits of acquaintance and makes that person your friend? Aristotle had an interesting take on friendship. He wrote, “One might like someone because he is good, or because he is useful, or because he is pleasant. And so there are three bases for friendships, depending on which of these qualities binds friends together.” I agree that a true friend should be good, useful and pleasant, but true friendship offers much more in my opinion. Friends enhance our lives, show us who we are and stick with us through celebration and tragedy!

I say let’s celebrate friendship today by being demonstrative. Send a note or call a friend, and let him or her know how important they are to you and how they add something special to your life! Not only will the person appreciate the message, but you will deepen the bond between the two of you.